Coin packaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for packaging coins in individual folders including a fixture for adjustably mounting staplers for simultaneously stapling the three open sides of the folder and for mounting a stamper to stamp information such as denomination and condition of the coin, value, price, etc., onto the folder.

United States Patent [191 Hewitt Dec. 31, 1974 COIN PACKAGING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: John G. Hewitt, 9344 E. Bristol, Davison, Mich.

[22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 302,012

[52] US. Cl; 53/131, 53/138 R, 101/382 NW [51] Int. Cl B65b 61/00 [58] Field of Search 53/131, 138 R, 140;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,633 11/1941 Chernow 29/4321 2,472,469 6/ 1949 Didato 29/432.1 2,743,442 5/1956 Davies 227/156 X 3,012,501 12/1961 Munson 101/381 3,099,955 8/1963 Keck 101/105 3,405,864 10/1968 53/140 X 3,415,035 12/1968 Dickersheim 53/138 R 3,564,983 2/1971 Grimm 53/131 X 3,714,894 2/1973 Robinson 101/382 MV Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-.1ohn Sipos Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hanke, Gifford, Patalidis & Dumont 5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for packaging coins in individual folders including a fixture for adjustably mounting staplers for simultaneously stapling the three open sides of the folder and for mounting astamper to stamp information such as denomination and condition of the coin, value, price, etc., onto the folder.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures com PACKAGING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to numismatics and more particularly to apparatus for simultaneously stapling the three open sides of the folders used to preserve coins and for subsequently labeling the folder to indicate the denomination and condition of the coin and other information commonly provided on coin folders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice by both those who buy and sell coins and those who are just collectors to protect their coins by stapling them individually into a folder. Such folders are rectangular with a fold line bisecting the rectangle and parallel to the smaller edges. A circular window is provided in each half of the folder to permit viewing of the obverse and reverse side of the coin when the folder is folded over the coins and stapled together along the three free sides. Transparent material such as cellophane covers the windows and is adhesively attached to the inside surface of the folder so that the coin is protected. The year of the coin, the denomination, the value and other pertinent information is often written or printed on the outer surface of the folder.

The diameter of the window varies depending upon the size of the coin the folder is intended to protect. It is important that the staples used to fasten the folder together be on each of the three free sides so that the coin cannot fall from the folder and that the staples be positioned quite close to the edge of the coin toprevent the coin from shifting around within the folder as the folder is being handled during inspection of the coin.

The task of mounting coins in such folders and in properly labeling thefolders is a difficult and time consuming job. After the proper folder hasbeen selected and the coin is properly positioned within the folder, a staple is used to staple the folder together in three different spots. This requires that the folder be manipulated to three different positions while the coin is being prevented from shifting within the folder. After the coin is mounted in the folder the labeling is usually done by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for quickly and easily mounting a coin in a folder and for subsequently labeling the folder with the appropriate information. It is especially useful for dealers or the like where a number of similar coins with similar information to be printed on the folders may be mounted at the same time but it is also useful for the collector who mounts but a few coins at a time.

A fixture is provided to properly position three staplers and means are provided to actuate the staplers simultaneously so that the coin can be placed in a folder and then can be stapled securely in position in a single operation. The folder can then be labeled while still positioned within the fixture.

LII

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present invention will be achieved upon reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a coin positioned in a folder prior to the folder being fastened together;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I but illustrating the coin mounted in the folder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fastening and labeling assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly shown in FIG. 3 enlarged somewhat for clarity; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the assembly shown in FIG. 3 enlarged somewhat for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention a preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3 as including a flat base member 10. Magnet strips 12 are fastened to the upper face of the base 10 to provide the means for ad justably mounting staplers 14. Guide brackets 16 provide the means for positioning a stamper 18 on the upper face of the base 10.

As can be seen in FIG. 4 the staplers 14 are of conventional construction except that a flat, flexible magnet strip 20 is fixed to the lower face of the base 22 of each of the staplers 14. The magnet strips 12 and 20 are preferably constructed of a suitable elastic material impregnated with a plurality of magnetic particles. Such material is presently available and provides an assembly in which the staplers 14 can be securely positioned at any point along the magnetic strip 12.

The strips 12, as best seen in FIG. 3, are mounted in the form of a T. An actuating member 24 is preferably fastened to one of the staplers 14 by a flexible member 26 with downwardly extending flanges 28 of the actuating member 24 capturing the actuating heads 30 of the staplers 14 to permit the staplers 14 to be operated simultaneously by placing the actuating member 24 over the actuating heads 26 of the staplers l4 and then pressing downwardly. Stop members 38 are provided on the base adjacent the stapler 1.4 which forms the base of the T.

The stamper 18 is of conventional construction except that, as can best be seen in FIG. 5, a channeled member 32 is provided for retaining the type 35 and has a flexible magnetic backing member 34 mounted to it. The magnetic backing member 34 thus provides the means for mounting the channel member 32 to the me tallic carrier 36 of the stamper 18.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, folders 40 for retaining a coin 42 are rectangular in shape and are usually constructed of cardboard or similar material. A medial fold line 44 is provided so that the folder can be folded over upon itself as best seen in FIG. 2. Each half of the folder 40 is provided with a circular cut-out 46 covered by a transparent sheet 48 adhesively fastened to the inner face of the folder. The coin 42 is mounted in the folder 40 by folding the folder 40 along the fold line 44 over the coin 42 and then stapling the free edges of the folder adjacent the edge of the coin 42 as shown atSfl in FIG. 2. Stapling the folder 40 close tothe edge of the coin 42 insures that it willv not shift position during handling. Once the coin 42 is mounted in the folder 40 both sides of the coin 42 can be examined without damaging or producing wear on the coin.

After the coin 42 has been mounted, indicia 52 (FIG. 2) is commonly provided on the outer surface of the folder 40 to indicate the denomination of the coin,the

price or value of the coin, the year in which it was minted and the condition of the coin.

Prior to the present invention the stapling and labeling were performed by hand. This is a difficult, time consuming and boring task resulting in errors and producing a non-uniform appearing collection of mounted COll'lS.

With the present invention this task is achieved by placing the coin 42 in the proper folder 40 for the particular coin 42. The folder 40 is folded to the position shown in FIG. 2 and it is then placed on the base in a position against the stop members 38 and between the staplers 14. The staplers 14 are then adjusted longitudinally along the strips 12 to a position which depends upon the size of the opening 46 in the folder 40 before being simultaneously actuated by the actuator member 24 to securely staple the coin 42 in the folder 40. The magnetic strips 12 and 20 provide a convenient means for adjusting the position of the staplers 14 and retaining the staplers 14 in the adjusted position.

To facilitate manipulating the folder 40 to the proper position between the staplers l4 and to enable the user to see the folder 40 while it is being stapled the actuating member 24 is preferably constructed of a suitable transparent material.

After the folder-40 has been stapled the stamper 18 can be actuated to stamp the appropriate indicia 52 onto the folder 40. The magnetic member 334 permits the type holding member 32 to be easily replaced by another similar member containing different prear-- ranged type 35 for the appropriate indicia to be provided for different folders 40. The guide brackets 16 securely mount the stamper 18 in place on the base l0 in a position to properly position the indicia 52 on the folder 40.

It is apparent that an apparatus has been disclosed which will greatly simplify the task of mounting and labeling coins. The magnetic strips retaining the staplers permit the staplers to be moved to a number of adjusted positions so that the apparatus can be used for different size coins. The stamper insures that uniform and neat indicia will be provided on the folder. The readily removable channeled member holding the type permits pre-set indicia to be used and is especially useful to dealers and the like to label a number of different folders containing similar coins.

It is apparent that although I have described but one embodiment of the present invention many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for packaging coins in individual folders, the folders being adapted to be folded in half over the coin to form a closed side and three open sides, the apparatus comprising a base, clip means on said base for retaining and positioning the folder, three elongated rectangular magnetic members fixed to said base, said magnetic members disposed in the form of a T with each of said magnetic members having one of its short sides disposed to be adjacent an open side of the folder when the folder is mounted to said base, said clip means being disposed to be adjacent the open side of said folder opposite the closed side of said folder, a stapler disposed on each of said magnetic members whereby said staplers can be removed to permit said folder to be mounted to said base and then can be moved longitudinally along said magnetic members to the proper position to staple the three open sides of said folder, a stamper mounted to said base along the closed side of said folder and having a stamper positioned above said folder and operable when actuated to provide indicia on said folder, and means for simultaneously actuating said staplers, said means comprising an actuating member fixed to one of said staplers to be disposed over said staplers and operable upon being pushed downwardly to simultaneously engage and actuate said staplers. 

1. An apparatus for packaging coins in individual folders, the folders being adapted to be folded in half over the coin to form a closed side and three open sides, the apparatus comprising a base, clip means on said base for retaining and positioning the folder, three elongated rectangular magnetic members fixed to said base, said magnetic members disposed in the form of a T with each of said magnetic members having one of its short sides disposed to be adjacent an open side of the folder when the folder is mounted to said base, said clip means being disposed to be adjacent the open side of said folder opposite the closed side of said folder, a stapler disposed on each of said magnetic members whereby said staplers can be removed to permit said folder to be mounted to said base and then can be moved longitudinally along said magnetic members to the proper position to staple the three open sides of said folder, a stamper mounted to said base along the closed side of said folder and having a stamper positioned above said folder and operable when actuated to provide indicia on said folder, and means for simultaneously actuating said staplers, said means comprising an actuating member fixed to one of said staplers to be disposed over said staplers and operable upon being pushed downwardly to simultaneously engage and actuate said staplers. 